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Courtesy U.S. Embassy Beijing Press Office
Blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng is seen holding the hand of U.S. ambassador to China Gary Locke, right, in this photo released by the U.S. Embassy in Beijing on Wednesday.
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Updated at 10:50 p.m. ET: BEIJING -- In a visit to China on Thursday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton cautioned China to protect human rights, the Associated Press reported.
Without mentioning Chen Guangcheng, the blind Chinese dissident who sought refuge in the U.S. Embassy in Beijing for six days, Clinton said, “all governments have to answer to our citizens’ aspirations for dignity and the rule of law and that no nation can or should deny those rights.”
Only hours earlier, U.S. officials said they had extracted from the Chinese government a promise that Chen would join his family and be allowed to start a new life in a university town in China, safe from the rural authorities who had abusively held him in prison and house arrest for nearly seven years.
In her remarks, Clinton did not mention Chen by name, although she had spoken with him hours before when he left the embassy. In a statement she welcomed the resettlement as one that “reflected his choices and our values.”
This came after an interview Chen gave to the Associated Press on Wednesday from a hospital room in Beijing where he was taken for medical treatment, during which he said a U.S. official told him that Chinese authorities had threatened to beat his wife if he did not leave the embassy. He said he feared for his safety and wanted to leave.
In a separate interview with Britain's Channel 4 News, Chen said he wanted to go to any country that will take him and his family and added he's disappointed that American officials didn't stay at the hospital with him as he thought they would.
"Nobody from [the] embassy is here … I don't understand why. They promised to be here," he told Channel 4 News.
Chen also told NBC News that he asked the U.S. to take concrete steps to guarantee his safety.
The State Department denied much of the AP's account of what Chen said.
The blind Chinese activist at the center of a diplomatic tug-of-war between Washington and Beijing left the U.S. Embassy Wednesday morning to receive medical care and be reunited with his family. NBC's Ian Williams reports.
"At no time did any U.S. official speak to Chen about physical or legal threats to his wife and children. Nor did Chinese officials make any such threats to us," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told NBC News.
Chen was told his family would be sent back home if he stayed in the embassy, she said.
China censors 'Shawshank' as Clinton heads to Beijing amid dissident drama
"At every opportunity, he expressed his desire to stay in China, reunify with his family, continue his education and work for reform in his country. All our diplomacy was directed at putting him in the best possible position to achieve his objectives," Nuland added.
Chen's plight has overshadowed high-level talks on economic and international issues due to begin Thursday. The United States hopes the negotiations will encourage greater Chinese cooperation on trade as well over Iran, Syria, North Korea and other international disputes.
Who is Fu? Chinese exile is 'God's double agent'
In what earlier appeared to be a deal to end the diplomatic tussle between the U.S. and China over his future, Chinese authorities promised he would be relocated to a safe environment where he could study at a university, a U.S. official said, speaking prior to Chen's comments.
Chen, who went to the embassy after making a daring escape from house arrest on April 21, ran afoul of local government officials in China for exposing forced abortions and other abuses. His dogged pursuit of justice and mistreatment by authorities brought him attention from the U.S. and foreign governments, and earned him supporters among many ordinary Chinese.
Chen may have been forced to accept what he's offered, according to Zeng Jinyan, a long-time friend of Chen's family and also a human rights activist. Zeng has been tweeting about Chen's latest situation since Wednesday evening, some in Chinese, some in English, according to NBC News.
Chinese crackdown on dissident's family and friends
According to Zeng, Chen was unwilling to leave the American embassy but had no choice because his wife and two children would be sent back to Shandong province if he insisted on staying. It is not known when and how they arrived in Beijing, but Chen's wife Yuan Weijing told Zeng that local government in Shandong province installed security cameras inside her home and moved in, waiting for her and the children if Chen didn't agree to leave the embassy. Yuan also said she was arrested on April 27th when they found out Chen has escaped.
Teng Biao, a lawyer who's been assisting Chen in the past few years, tweeted about his conversation with Chen Wednesday afternoon, asking Chen "I've heard you were threatened, is that true?" Chen said, "Yes, very true. People from the Foreign Ministry said this afternoon, if you didn't leave the embassy, your wife and children would have been sent back to Shandong." In the same conversation, Chen said the Shandong officials who escorted his family are still in Beijing.
Blind dissident’s case a 'hot potato' for US-China
Meanwhile, Chinese government is taking a more hard-lined attitude on the case, demanding an apology from the American government.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said: "It should be pointed out that Chen Guangcheng, a Chinese citizen, was taken by the U.S. side to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing via abnormal means, and the Chinese side is strongly dissatisfied with the move."
Jordan Pouille / AFP - Getty Images
Chinese activist activist Chen Guangcheng (left) is seen in a wheelchair pushed by a nurse at the Chaoyang hospital in Beijing Wednesday.
He stressed that China demands that the United States thoroughly investigate the event, hold relevant people accountable and ensure that such an event does not happen again. "What the U.S. side has done has interfered in the domestic affairs of China, and the Chinese side will never accept it," said the spokesman.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton -- who arrived in Beijing Tuesday ahead of the talks -- said that the case had been handled "in a way that reflected his choices and our values" -- comments made before Chen's remarks that he feared for his and his family's safety.
She said it was crucial to ensure that Beijing kept its pledge to leave him unmolested. "The United States government and the American people are committed to remaining engaged with Mr. Chen and his family in the days, weeks, and years ahead," Clinton added.
Chen's supporters said last Friday that he had escaped after 20 months of house arrest and gone into U.S. government protection.
More on Chen: Video reveals blind Chinese activist's plight
NBC News, msnbc.com staff, Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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- China censors 'Shawshank' as Clinton heads to Beijing amid dissident drama
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- UN: More than 34 children killed in Syria since truce
- For Afghans, death of bin Laden hasn't ended their problems
Follow us on Twitter: @msnbc_world
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The Brittish gave Hong Kong back to China rule and nothing changed. I think China wants to change but they don't know how to do it without looking like wimps. As the older generation dies off change will come and Tailand has already said they will go back with China after change comes. What I don't like about North Korea is they have a young leader. I hope he has a family because you worry more about your family when you have your family to keep safe. We just need to assure China that we won't interfer with the internal workings of China until change comes. Then they might benefit from our way of doing things. I'm 61 and when I was young the China Premier said China doesn't want interferrence from the outside and we should abide by that. You might see a different China if that would happen. And China needs to let their people know that change will probably come but it comes slowly.
Maybe, the way this is being reported is the truth. Maybe, he didn't seek asylum, but wanted to bring more international attention to the plight of his fellow citizens. He certainly has achieved that. If not, what should our country be risking to protect this brave Chinese citizen? What kind of support can we effectively provide? It's pretty absurd that the government of China is so afraid of one of its own citizens that they've kept him under house arrest for so long and now they've erased him from the Internet. The preservation of the Communist Party and their control over all aspects of life there is the government's goal. They're not about to be swept away in any "Chinese Spring," but change will eventually come.
The US embassy must be kidding them selves, to think that China is not going to take this guy and probably his family and execute them. bam bam bam
They will probably take them and put them in a nice place so we can see how well they treat the family and when the press dies down.
That is the way they treat all thier citizens.
You may be right. Ask England what they think when they had promises from tribes to leave and give up their arms and went through the Afghan pass years ago and over 30,000 were wiped out. Of course we can ask the Indians on our promises.
We need to stay out of other soverign nations internal affairs. The chinese gov't had the guy under house arrest and he runs to U.S. embassy. What would we do if a guy like Zimmerman who is under house arrest skips out and runs to the Chinese embassy--we would go balistic.
Someone seeking asylum to escape persecution for their political views and someone trying to escape a murder charge are two completely different issues. Forced sterilization and abortions should not be allowed.
Chen is a dead man, China does not play well with others, especially dissadents.
Now let's all run down and buy some more products made in Communist China. I never buy a product made in China and that included Wal Mart who started this and now big corporations are taking over USA by running Washington. Like banks and Wal Street they own our political process that is broker big time.
China demands an apology- you know what you can do with your apologies.
This man will be discredited and probably disappear within the next two years. He gave China a black eye and they are not going to forget it. Considering China's past his safe environment will be with guards posted 24 hours a day to keep him isolated and "safe" while he gets re-educated in their ways and he will have any reference to or about him censored as they have already done on the Internet. When he is forgotten he will quietly vanish along with his family. His only hope is that China is made aware that he is not forgotten and that his continued welfare is connected to how our government deals with them.
Either the Ditto Heads don't understand what they read and intrepid what they read ,I don't see why they are criticizing the Sec of State and the president..
Even though the Chinese government said they would treat him like an average citizen, as soon as he brings anymore information about the injustices of the Chinese government, he'll never be seen again. He will just disappear. If the Chinese government is questioned about his disappearance, they will just say they know nothing about it. Kind of like our government did in the Fast and Furious scandal. Could our government become like the Chinese government? I think they are well on their way.
They might just leave him alone because his family is at stake and it would have other countries see China in a different light. Just have to wait and see. I think our concern is with North Korea right now and having China keep them from using nuclear weapons. North Korea has a lot of old soldiers that think they should wipe out South Korea.
Un's father said before he died. To make the military strong and to make peace. I think his name is Un
The thing is- it's a world full of injustice and hatred and this injustice and hatred and selfishness comes FROM US, not some outside force that permeates some peoples hearts and not others. Evil is within ALL of us, but as for Chen, he has chosen justice, truth and the care of his fellow man over his own self interest. So at the end of it all, it doesn't matter what China does or doesn't do to him BECAUSE EVERYTHING WILL BE REVEALED AND JUDGED JUSTLY.... and if you have no faith to believe in truths greater than yourself, than you are the most to be pitied in this world.....
The biggest embarrasment to China is the fact that a blind man escaped their house arrest.
I dont see how he did it!!!
This guy is so screwed.
I say F china don't apologize, don't shop at wallmart , buy American, please save us from socialism!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You DO realize that we, as a united people, could put the most pressure on China AND the US by utterly refusing to buy chinese, clothes, shoes, toys, pet food, etc...
The chinese gov't allows lead into their toy paints and poisons our babies. They use human feces for gardening, as well as outlawed chemicals, and they poison our people. They use slave labor conditions and ruin jobs for BOTH union AND non-union workers, by undercutting prices and offering inferior quality.
But some of the whiners on this post do NOT really care about that. You're wearing a chinese shirt, letting your baby eat lead based paint on his/her favorite toy, and the bottom line is the ONLY line you look at.
YES, we can ALL make a difference, but we ALL need to stop the invasion of chinese products by refusing to buy them, even at a discount!
BTW, I am NOT union, just a concerned American.
Yes, even manufacturing business owners who tout the made in America line still send their molds to China for completion. Then, they hire temporary workers stateside and dismiss them when business declines. As an accountant, I can understand why small manufacturers and businesses do it. Take one look at the amount a small business has to pay for their portion of employee health insurance alone. Then, add in 401k matches, unemployment insurance, building/asset insurance, FICA, SUTA, and FUTA. However, there are alternatives available. Small employers can band together to reduce health insurance costs or encourage employees to obtain insurance through professional associations. Also, product production is consumer driven. If consumers demand American made, they will make it. Otherwise, price and cost control are the name of the game.
It is amazing to see that the reason that Mr. Chen was under house arrest did not spur more debate. Where are the pro-life supporters? Where are the churches? I am not saying that I agree or disagree. However, if these groups feel strongly about these views, why is it they are not voicing their opinions and organizing support for Mr. Chen?
Oba马 either lie to the world or just want to kiss the Chinese communist party's ass! TheChinese people who helped Chen Guangcheng to got to the US embassy have been arrested by the party already! Oba马 and Hillary let Chen back to the party's country, he will be torturing to die soon :(! There is no safe place for him in P.R.China!!!
If US does not try the best to help and suport Chinese people like Chen to fight for their freedom and human rights, if US want to kiss the Chinese Communist Party's ass, US will be disdroied by their weakness and princepleless! The Communist will take over US with Oba马's suport!!! American people will loss their freedom and the beauty of this great country!!!
Even though the Chinese government said they would treat him like an average citizen, as soon as he brings anymore information about the injustices of the Chinese government, he'll never be seen again. He will just disappear. If the Chinese government is questioned about his disappearance, they will just say they know nothing about it. Kind of like our government did in the Fast and Furious scandal. Could our government become like the Chinese government? I think they are well on their way.
Boooooo, Hisssssssss!!!!!!
I wonder how much we'll hear from Chen in the near future? How will we know what is happening to him? He escaped house arrest and then decided he didn't want to escape?
China, we must not anger the mighty China! That is why we don't say anything about China's possible role in a war in Afghanistan that has gone on for ten years. Check a world map and understand geographically where China sits in proximity to the conflict. A short trip from the eastern border of Afghanistan, eastward across a narrow section of Pakistan you will find China. Hmmm...I wonder who could be supplying insurgents, Al-Quaida, the Taliban, with weapons and other clandestine support?
Inscrutable, HAH!
We are masters at dancing with devils that torment us. Pakistan is our ally and yet took in and hid the mastermind of the attacks of 9/11. Saudi Arabia is our ally, and yet the evil minded (formerly living) demon who masterminded the 9/11 attacks was born there, his family are Saudi citizens and so were the vast majority of the sick twisted monsters who flew the planes on 9/11, and then there's China, a rising star, that is ruthlessly manipulating their economy to drive ours into the ground. China, a country who may very well be fighting a war by proxy with us in Afghanistan and who are most definitely at war with us economically. We don't claim them as an ally, so are they our enemy? Hmmmm...seems that designation ought to be Saudi Arabia's and Pakistan's for sure....
breaking news mr. chen found dead of apparent suicide (government assisted suicide??)
One injection and the next thing he knows he's going out the door and President Obama's China problem is solved in time for Hillary's visit.
headline this time next year: activist Chen was found dead in his bathtub in an apparent blind man stepped on a soap accident. ..... of course by then we all would already forgot what this is all about.....
a regime that cannot hold their policy and ideology against one blind man without molesting him is doomed to fail... let's see the cards fall...